TARRAGONA NEXT?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23706, 13 January 1939, Page 7

TARRAGONA NEXT?

MENACED BY REBELS THE OFFENSIVE CONTINUED RIVER FRANCOLI CROSSED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) LONDON, Jan. 11. The Hendaye correspondent of The Times says that General Franco’s forces, starting from the village of Blancafort, broke through the second line of loyalist field fortifications defending the right bank of the River Francoli, which they later crossed with the aim of isolating Mont Blanch from the bases by cutting the main road running south-east to Tarragona.

Many heights dominating the town have already been reached. Other forces are advancing along the main road from Grandesa to Tarragona, and are now within three' miles of Flaset. Thus Tarragona is menaced on two sides. Life is returning to the great plain of Lerida. A new rebel town council has been appointed at Borjasblancas, and most of the refugees have returned. THE ESTREMADURA FRONT LOYALIST SUCCESSES BARCELONA, Jan. 11. The loyalists on the Estremadura front are pushing down a valley west of Azuaga, and have reached a point eight miles from the Seville-Sala-manca railway, but a rebel concentration of artillery and aircraft is making their progress costly. A desnerate battle is being waged at Panarroya, a key centre in the Estremadura front. The loyalists captured other vital positions at Manel and Dehierro, and are storming the heights overlooking Panarroya. , Counter-attacks by reinforced Nationalists were repulsed.

CREWS OF CAPTURED SHIPS ARRIVAL AT GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR, Jan. 12. (Received Jan. 12, at 10.30 p.m.) Eighty-four members of the crew of the Latvian steamer Everards and of two Greek steamers, the Ilissos and the Nicolaou Eleni, arrived unexpectedly in the Ilissos today. The captains of the Everards and the Nicolaou Eleni told how, when they were captured by armed trawlers, they were forced to steam to Ceuta and discharge the cargoes, after which Spanish crews were placed aboard the, steamers, which proceeded to sea. The Greek and Latvian crews were imprisoned, but eventually released and permitted to sail in the Ilissos, whose cargo was also confiscated. None of the ships were bound for Spanish ports. Two carried coal to Oran and the third sugar to Marseilles. Members of the crew complained of their treatment and bad food. FURTHER REBEL SUCCESS CAPTURE OF MONT BLANCH SARAGOSSA, Jan. 12. (Received Jan. 13, at 0.15 a.m.) Rebels captured Mont Blanch, the biggest prize in the Catalan- push, after an all-day battle during which artillery shelled the town while planes machine-gunend the defenders behind street barricades until dusk, when Navarresse troops stormed it at bayonet point.

RECENT NAVAL ACTION BRITISH PROTEST TO REBELS LONDON, Jan. 12. (Received Jan. 13, at 0.15 a.m.) The Times naval writer says the Government has strongly protested to General Franco against the violation of British territorial waters by rebel vessels in the naval action on December 30, and says it is reserving the right to claim compensation for injuries to British subjects and damage to property.